4 Reasons Living with Pets Won’t Get You Any Buyer Offers

4 Reasons Living with Pets Won’t Get You Any Buyer Offers

A lot of people love animals - from photos to cute videos to the tiny sounds they make. However, when the time comes to put your waterfront home for sale in Pittsburgh PA on the market, having pets at home is not a strong selling point.

When buyers step inside your home for the first time, they get to experience how the space would make them feel. They get to see beyond the listing photos and get a more in-depth and up close view of the features of your home. This is a sensory experience where they are critical of the sounds they hear and the aromas they smell, which is why some real estate agents play soft music and bake a fresh batch of cookies in the kitchen during an open house.

If you are a pet owner, here are some of the common reasons why your home might not get any buyer offers because of your pets:

1. Your pets give a bad first impression.

When a buyer wants to see your home for sale on the river in Pittsburgh and your pet is at home when they drop by, it’s hard to predict how your furry friend will react. While some house trained pets are friendly, others can cause a ruckus and bark or growl at the newcomer. This will definitely not give a good impression of your home and might even make the buyers turn around and leave the premises immediately. Prevent this by finding your pets a place to stay while buyers tour your home for sale.

2. Your pets can distract the buyers.

One of the tips that professional home stagers give homeowners is to “depersonalize the space.” This means that you should take away any family photos, framed diplomas, vacation posters, collections and other mementos out of the home. Pets are a personal part of the home and having them around does not allow the buyer to picture themselves living in the home. They need to be able to see the potential of the space and a pet will distract them from that.

3. Your pet leaves a distinct and unpleasant odor.

As a pet owner, you might have been lost the ability to notice the smells your pet leaves behind. No matter how clean the space looks like, some of the smell from their litter box linger in the walls, carpets and floors. Make sure to thoroughly clean the space using enzyme cleaners while keeping all the windows open to make sure that the odor is removed from the space. In some cases, a fresh coat of paint helps to do the trick.

4. Your pets cause minor damage to the home.

Another reason why you aren’t getting any buyer offers for your home for sale on the Allegheny River PA is because of the little damages your pets have caused in your home. Be on the lookout for any chewed wires or floor scratches or broken glass in some areas of the home. When buyers detect the smell of pets in the home, they are usually more careful in checking the hard-to-reach areas and check for pet damage that they might not have otherwise noticed.

Don’t let your love of animals prevent you from getting the best price for your home for sale. Be a smart seller and work with a trusted local REALTOR® who can help you sell your home fast.  For even more home selling tips, visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net today.

Call me, Connie Wolff at 724-779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® with proven experience in buying and selling waterfront homes for sale in Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

5 Ways Pets Can Stall the Sale of Your Waterfront Home in Pittsburgh

5 Ways Pets Can Stall the Sale of Your Waterfront Home in Pittsburgh

Putting your waterfront home for sale in Pittsburgh PA on the real estate market is hard enough. Selling your home when you have pets is even more difficult. Studies have shown that having pets can significantly reduce the value of your home. Experts estimate that a home can lose up to $30,000 on the sale price because of the seller’s pets. More than the smell and clutter that they leave behind, here are 5 other ways that pets can stall the sale of your home:

Negative First Impressions

Buyers who are not accustomed to living with pets might instantly feel turned off when they detect any left behind pet smells. Apart from this, if a potential buyer visits while your pet is at home, you never really know how your dog or cat or other pets will react. While some dogs are trained to nicely interact with people, others can go berserk and bark or howl like there’s no tomorrow - not a pretty sight (or sound) for your potential buyers.

Pets Easily Distract Buyers

Furry friends are a personal part of your home for sale on the river PA. Before you put your home up for sale, it’s important to depersonalize the space so the buyers are able to fully see the potential of the space and picture themselves living in it. That’s not something they would be able to do if your pet keeps following them around or is barking at them constantly from the yard. As you remove your family photos, personal posters and other family heirlooms, it’s best to also remove any trace of your pets.

Buyers Might Have Phobias

One of the things you might want to remember is that not every person who walks through your front door likes pets. Some people have cynophobia, which is fear of dogs. Some people might have other pet-related phobias. You wouldn’t want to have the perfect buyer who instantly fell in love with the features and amenities of your home to turn their backs and walk away because of your pet, right?

Pets Can Cause Damage to Your Property

Even when you don’t have your pets at home during an open house or when your REALTOR® shows a potential buyer around, pets can still affect your home sale because of the odor and ruined furniture they leave behind. How many times have you woken up to a bed filled with pet hair? How many times have you asked your furry friend to stop scratching the floor, only to find out it’s already been damaged and needs repairs? Be on top of all of this and make sure that when a potential buyer walks in your home for sale on the Allegheny River PA, the home is odor-free, stain-free, and the furniture and walls are pet-proofed.

Locked Up Pets Hinder Buyers from Seeing the Home in Full

Some sellers make the mistake of locking their pets in a room at home to keep them from distracting the guests. Contrary to their beliefs, a locked up pet can affect your home’s value more than protect it. When you lock a pet in a room, you remove the option for buyers to view that room. In addition, pets who are not used to confined spaces can become hysterical and scratch even more doors and walls just to try to get out of the room.

Don’t let your love of animals prevent you from getting the best price for your home for sale. Be a smart seller and work with a trusted local REALTOR® who can help you sell your home fast.  For even more home selling tips, visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net today.

Call me, Connie Wolff at 724-779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® with proven experience in buying and selling waterfront homes for sale in Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

Top 3 Tips to Reduce Stress When Buying Pittsburgh PA Homes for Sale

Top 3 Tips to Reduce Stress When Buying Pittsburgh PA Homes for Sale

If you’re looking to purchase a second home or downsize to a new waterfront home for sale in Pittsburgh PA, then you should be aware of the different ways to minimize stress when buying a home. While it can be an exciting new phase in you and your family’s lives, it can also become a source of unnecessary stress keeping you awake at night. Check out this helpful list of tips for new and experienced home buyers:

1. Determine what you want in your new home.

Your REALTOR® won’t be able to read your mind so it would be best if you know what you already what in a home before you and your agent start looking for one. Do you need 2 or 4 bedrooms? How many bathrooms do you need? Should you have a one-level or multi-level home? Do you want an open floor plan with brick exterior? Are you looking for a condo, a single-family home or a townhouse? Should the home be located near business establishments or are you looking for a home that offers more privacy? Know your non-negotiables when it comes to your dream home. Doing so helps you reduce the stress of buying and allow your agent to better find a home that fits you and your family’s needs best.

2. Get pre-approved for a mortgage loan.

Nothing can be quite as stressful as when you find your dream waterfront home for sale in 3 Rivers Pittsburgh and then realizing that you can’t afford to pay the mortgage. While qualifying for a home loan can become a major stress factor, it shouldn’t prevent you from living your dream and buying your dream home. Save yourself time and money by getting pre-approved for a mortgage first before you start looking for a home. This way, you know exactly how much home you can afford. Keep in mind that the costs of a home purchase doesn’t just mean the sale price of the house, it also involves closing costs, moving costs, repairs or maintenance, furniture and other expenses.

3. Work only with a REALTOR® that you trust.

A real estate agent is your best bet to reduce all the stress related to buying a home for sale on the Allegheny River PA. Your agent is your partner who can explain to you all the different aspects of home buying, when is the best time to buy, how much money you should offer and more. They also have access to homes that are not currently on the market so you’re sure to be one of the firsts to see all the newest listings. Make sure that you are working with a local REALTOR® that has years of proven experience in the industry.

There is a certain amount of pressure and stress that accompanies home buying. However, it’s good practice to remind yourself that this is also an exciting time that you should be sharing with your family. Minimizing the stress is really all about ample preparation, sufficient knowledge and having a solid support system to guide you through. For even more home buying tips, visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net today.

Call me, Connie Wolff at 724-779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® with proven experience in buying and selling waterfront homes for sale in Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

5 Quick Tips for Dealing with Home Buying Stress in Pittsburgh PA

5 Quick Tips for Dealing with Home Buying Stress in Pittsburgh PA

Gorgeous 3 bedroom waterfront homes for sale in Pittsburgh PA! Lovely 4 bedroom traditional home for sale in a great location! Best price offer on stunning piece of property - seller financing available, don’t miss out!

You might have come across a couple of these headlines during your search for a new home for sale. You pick a couple of houses to look at, you study all the information that the seller has provided. You go to the open houses. You talk to the buyer’s real estate agent. You talk to your family and trusted friends. You try to understand the real estate jargon. You hire a Realtor®, a home inspector, an accountant, and more.

Tired? Stressed? It’s not surprising that a lot of buyers find that the entire home purchasing process is a huge headache that won’t go away unless you finally make a decision, sign the papers and purchase the property right away.

Searching for a new home can become challenging and stressful. According to studies, moving home is one of life’s most stressful events, next to bereavement and divorce. But don’t let that discourage you. If you’re planning to purchase a new home for sale on the river Pittsburgh and you’re looking to finally move out of your old apartment this year, here are some helpful tips to keep stress at bay:

1. Know what you want in a home.

Are you looking for a starter home? How many years do you see yourself living at the new place? Are you moving by yourself or with your family? How many rooms do you need? What are you non-negotiable amenities? Determine what you want for in a home and be very specific so your real estate agent get a clearer direction on what homes to recommend.

2. Get a pre-approved mortgage.

A huge chunk of the stress in home buying has mostly to do with how much money do you actually have to purchase your dream home. One way to help augment your stress is by getting a pre-approved mortgage before you start your home search. By doing so, you are more able to determine just how much home you can afford.

3. Be flexible.

While you need to be firm on the major requirements you’re looking for in a home, you also have to learn to be flexible when it comes the features that you can live without. Prioritize and learn how to compromise on the things you want so you won’t go over your home buying budget.

4. Work with your REALTOR®.

Find a REALTOR® that you like and trust. He or she can greatly impact the length of time it would take for you to find the home you’ve been looking for. Make sure you are working with a real estate agent that has a lot of experience in the field and is also knowledgeable about the community you’re looking to find a home in.

5. Relax.

Exercise, do yoga, get a massage - take a relaxing break from the entire process of buying homes for sale on the Allegheny River PA. Give yourself ample time to rest and recharge. Doing so can help keep your body and mind at ease, which can in turn allow you to focus and rationally address home buying issues when they come.

There is a certain amount of pressure and stress that accompanies home buying. However, it’s good practice to remind yourself that this is also an exciting time that you should be sharing with your family. Minimizing the stress is really all about ample preparation, sufficient knowledge and having a solid support system to guide you through. For even more home buying tips, visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net today.

Call me, Connie Wolff at 724-779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® with proven experience in buying and selling waterfront homes for sale in Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

6 Common Red Flags to Watch out for Before Buying Pittsburgh PA Homes

6 Common Red Flags to Watch out for Before Buying Pittsburgh PA Homes

No matter what type of home you’re looking for - a starter home, a second home or a vacation home - purchasing your very own waterfront home for sale in Pittsburgh PA is an investment. Home buyers should look beyond the beauty of the home during an open house. Remember that while real estate photos look good and a home has been perfectly staged for an open house, a thorough inspection of the structural integrity of the home is particularly important. To avoid costly repairs when looking at your new home, here is a list of common red flags to carefully watch out for:

Rotted Wood

Check the exterior of the home for any rotted wood - deck, trim, and eaves. Wood that has been exposed to moisture rots over time making it important to protect it with a special paint or finish. Inspect the cabinets, shelves and wooden panels in the bathroom and kitchen. Any rotted wood might be a sign of poor maintenance and/or water penetration.

Amateur Repairs

While homeowners save time and money doing DIY home improvements, not all repairs are the same. Be on the lookout for amateur repairs especially in plumbing and electrical work. Improper repairs are costly and dangerous!

Poor Drainage

Basements and garages can suffer water damage if the home does not have proper drainage. This can also cause mold problems and eventually affect the foundation of the home. Who wants a home that floods often with every rainstorm?

Heating and Cooling Systems

Another red flag are old heating and coo

ling systems that either were not properly maintained or are passed their 12-15 year life expectancy. This can lead to costly maintenance that you definitely don’t want to add to your list of new homeowner costs, right? Plus, failing heating and cooling systems in homes for sale on the river in  Pittsburgh could emit harmful carbon monoxide fumes and, because they are not energy-efficient, could rack up your energy bills.

Safety Issues of Electric Works

Electrical issues such as knob and tube, poorly spliced, aluminum wiring, ungrounded outlets, faulty electrical panel wiring and more are a safety hazard causing millions of $$$s in property damage.

Foundation Problems

Structural problems are the ones that are very difficult and costly to repair. If you spot any large cracks in the basement, ceiling or any part of the home, be sure to get a home inspection before you sign on the purchase of a home for sale on the Allegheny River Pittsburgh PA.

Be completely thorough when you go to any open house and inspect the home properly like any good investor would. A home purchase should be treated as a financial investment and what better way to protect your investment than to work with a trusted local Realtor® to help you find your dream home? Visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net to schedule a viewing of any of the lovely homes for sale in the numerous friendly communities aound the nation’s most affordable, livable city in Pittsburgh PA.

Call me, Connie Wolff at 724-779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® with proven experience in buying and selling waterfront homes for sale in Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

5 RED Flags to Look For Before Buying Homes for Sale in Pittsburgh PA

5 RED Flags to Look For Before Buying Homes for Sale in Pittsburgh PA

Looking for the perfect waterfront home for sale in Pittsburgh PA with all the features and amenities that you and your family need? If you’re eager to buy and a homeowner is eager to sell, you might end up with an uneducated purchase that will simply cost you even more money and time as the years go by. Before you sign off on that purchase offer, be sure to look closely at the home during an open house and rely on your REALTOR Connie to guide you with her expertise and extensive knowledge of the home buying process.  

Don’t get fooled by beautiful pictures and real estate jargon can be hard to understand. A skillful professional REALTOR® will help you spot these 5 red flags for homebuyers:

1. What’s the most important area of the house? The Basement. The foundation of the home is most important and repairs can be expensive. Looking for large cracks, water penetration, damp, mold, etc. can be a sign of some structural damage. Another way to check is by looking at the door frames - do they look misshapen or do they not close properly? This could indicate an issue with the foundation. However, the best way to check foundation problems is by hiring a structural engineer or a home inspector to help determine if the home has any structural problems that even the seller isn’t aware of.

2. Pest infestation. The cost of a pest inspection is relatively inexpensive so most sellers agree to allow buyers to have a pest inspection of their home for sale on the river Pittsburgh. Most common pests that you should look out for are the wood destroying pests such as termites, carpenter ants and powder post beetle. If left unattended, unseen damage will occur that could lead to significant repair costs.

3. Amateur repairs. Another red flag are the glaring amateur repairs that have been done to a home prior to an open house. You can notice these easily even without a professional inspector. Simply keep an eye out for leaky faucets or wobbly toilets which can indicate amateur plumbing, missing trim work, faulty wiring and more.

4. Wall or ceiling stains. This is a red flag may be an indication of a deeper problem in the home for sale on the Allegheny River PA. The stains are caused by water leaking from a roof leak, ice dam or other plumbing problem, and it is what every homeowner must strive to prevent as routine maintenance of the riverfront home for sale in Pittsburgh PA.

5. Too many homes for sale in the area. While it’s nice to have a lot of options when heading to a neighborhood and looking at the different homes for sale, it’s a different story altogether when the neighborhood is experiencing a mass exodus. Are there any businesses boarded up or vandalized? Talk to a neighbor to find out any problems they’re experiencing in the area and why people are leaving the neighborhood. There might be a problems in the area that you are unaware of.

No one can completely inspect a home at the open house but a second visit reveals so much more if you’re seriously interested in the house. Be as thorough as you can and look for these 5 RED flags as any good investor would. A home purchase should be treated as a financial investment and what better way to protect your investment than to work with a trusted local Realtor® to help you find your dream home? Visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net to schedule a viewing of any of the lovely homes for sale in the most affordable, most livable, most friendly Allegheny riverfront communities of Pittsburgh PA.

Call me, Connie Wolff at 724-779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® with proven experience in buying and selling waterfront homes for sale in Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.

Top Realtor® Tips to Quickly Sell Your Pittsburgh PA Home in 2016

Top Realtor® Tips to Quickly Sell Your Pittsburgh PA Home in 2016

Selling your home can be a lot of work. It’s a challenging process that involves a lot of different factors. And if you want to put your waterfront homes for sale in Pittsburgh PA on the market and quickly sell it this 2016, there are some things you need to keep in mind to help you sell fast.

Check out this list of top Realtor® tips for homeowners this 2016:

Stage your home.

No matter what year it is, no matter how old or new your home is, and no matter how many renovations or home improvement projects you’ve invested on, if you open your home to buyers without staging your home, it’s hard to get top price offer for it. One of the reasons why Realtors® tell home sellers to stage their home is for attracting the right buyers into seeing the potential of the space. So make sure to clear the home of any personal items such as framed family photos on top of the fireplace, posters, toy collection, refrigerator magnets, personalized name-stitched towels in the bedroom, and more. Allow the buyers to picture themselves living in your home without getting a reminder of you and your family in every room.

Opt for seller financing.

With the increase of mortgage rates last December to 0.25%, talks of increasing it to 0.50% and more after that can make it harder for buyers to finance their homes. This is why some homeowners opt to finance the deal themselves. Instead of making the buyer take a loan from the bank, they (seller) offer to finance the sale by giving the buyers a lower interest rate with their monthly payments. As a seller, this option helps you get the house sold faster, just make sure that you do not have any mortgage payments left. If you do, you need to get an approval from your lender before moving forward with the seller-financing deal.

Market to millenials.

Another way for you to quickly sell your waterfront home for sale in 3 Rivers Pittsburgh is to target your market right. For 2016, millenials or people ages 18-34 are your target market. They are the ones looking to move out of their college dorms or pricey apartments and start building roots by buying their first homes. If you have an outdoor deck, a gourmet kitchen, an open floor plan, and stunning views, don’t forget to include these in your listing.

Study the market with an experienced local Realtor®.

How would you price your home right and when should you actually put your home up for sale? Work with a local Realtor® who has a lot of experience in putting homes for sale on the river Pittsburgh. He or she can give you a comprehensive market analysis which lets you know when the best time to sell is and how to price your home right. Your Realtor® will help explain the industry jargon and let you know the best way to sell your home fast and get the best price offer. If you’re looking for an experienced Realtor® in Pittsburgh PA to help you with the sale of your home, visit http://www.SoldByConnie.net.

Call me, Connie Wolff at 724-779-1427 for all your real estate needs. As a trusted luxury REALTOR® with proven experience in buying and selling waterfront homes for sale in Pittsburgh PA, I provide all my clients expert solutions, one yard at a time.